Poetry in Kenya is becoming big. Big in business, big in followers, big in content too. Anyone who’s into poetry knows that nowadays they’re spoilt for choice when it comes to which gigs to go to, who to keep an eye out for and so forth.

The Wamathai.com hosted Spoken word events started happening as far back as June 2010 and has been going strong. By far yesterday’s event was the best yet!

The Wamathai Spoken Word – March 2012 Edition was held at the beautiful Michael Joseph Centre at Safaricom House along Waiyaki Way. It started at 4pm and ended just past 7pm. The event was proudly hosted by Wamathai.com and Safaricom Ltd. Below is an account of what happened.

The event, hosted by Wanjeri ‘Mawazo Mengi’ Gakuru and Marcus Olang began with an opening act by SLAP – Sounds Like A Plan – a group that promotes East African House. Quite something! They were followed by Nuru Bahati performing some conscious messages on society and its ills. One couldn’t help but listen and ponder.

Quickly scanning the beautiful room, I saw screens with a slide show of SamiKhan’s beautiful photography. He was also moving around taking shots of the people around as well as the performers. The smooth @dwanzi_ gave us two poetry pieces.

Sentimental Floetry (Namatsi Lukoye, Carol Njenga & Vivian Wambui) are another group that really caught my eye. Their first piece went something like “…calling her mama pima, saying she obeys your thirst, and gives you daima….”! Then they did yet another beautiful piece mixed with some music that was about love and a broken heart, with accusations here and there. I almost shed a tear!

Michael Kwambo graced us with two pieces, and I couldn’t help remember the one he opened with: Seventh Heaven. Right after was this guy with an extraordinary way of playing the guitar! You had to be there to see this! The kind of music he produced was out of this world!

Kahawa came on stage and performed several pieces, starting with their rendition of Wakawaka. I particularly loved their own compositions. Very original!

As usual, KennetB came with exemplary performances, beginning with a short film, produced and directed by him, on nature. It was brilliant. A spoken word piece with imagery and sound effects. Bravo! His friends also didn’t dissapoint.

The beautiful talented Wanjiku Mwaurah performed next a piece by Mutabaruka known as “Dis Poem” .. it caught the attention of everyone with its witty, crafty lines such as “dis poem is not a poem”!

I left shortly after, my mind, heart and soul filled with warmth, questions, thoughts, love and peace all intertwined together. Truly I was glad I didn’t miss it.